Combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser

ABSTRACT

A combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser includes a hollow housing and a lighter device that is attached to a first end of the hollow housing and has a fluid reservoir which extends into the hollow housing towards an opposed second end and an ignition assembly which is disposed external to the first end. A closure member is provided for closing the second end of the hollow housing. A space is formed within the hollow housing intermediate at least a portion of a peripheral interior surface of the housing and at least a portion of an exterior peripheral surface of the fluid reservoir for storing a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/695,285 filed Jun. 30, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to cigarette lighters and breath freshener dispensers and, more particularly, this invention relates to a combination cigarette lighter and edible breath freshener dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is generally well known, smokers use breath freshener aids to alleviate tobacco odor and associated bad taste left in the mouth after smoking. Breath freshener aids are generally available as a mouth spray and as edible candy. Either type must be carried in a pocket or in a purse separately from a butane gas lighter which is predominantly used by smokers.

Efforts have been made to overcome disadvantages of carrying breath freshener aids separately from the butane gas lighter. U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,539 to Carlson discloses a combined lighter device and breath spray device wherein the lighter device is secured to the breath spray device through a hinge structure. The lighter device further defines a cavity defined thereon for receiving a portion of the breath spray device when in a non deployed orientation. Additionally, a cover structure is provided to prevent discharge of the lighter device when not in use.

U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2005/0130090, now abandoned, teaches a combination cigarette lighter and breath freshener dispenser wherein the cigarette lighter has a lighting mechanism, a housing member, and an external side surface including a pair of parallel tracks for attaching the breath freshener dispenser securely to the cigarette lighter. Additionally, the breath freshener dispenser, which contains a plurality of edible breath fresheners, is adapted to be removable from the lighter device for refilling and replacing breath fresheners as necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, according to a first embodiment, provides a combination lighter device and breath freshener dispenser. Such combination includes a hollow housing. A lighter device attached to a first end of the hollow housing. The lighter device has a fluid reservoir which extends into the hollow housing towards an opposed second end and an ignition assembly which is disposed external to the first end. A closure member is provided for closing the second end of the hollow housing. A space is formed within the hollow housing intermediate at least a portion of a peripheral interior surface of the housing and at least a portion of an exterior peripheral surface of the fluid reservoir. The space is capable of storing a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser which includes a housing. A first chamber is formed within the housing and is at least in open communication with a first end of the housing for holding a flammable fluid. An ignition apparatus is attached to the first end and is operable external thereto. The ignition apparatus has a gas control lever, a flint wheel and a flame adjustment wheel and at least closes the first chamber. A second chamber is formed within the housing and is at least in open communication with a second end thereof for holding a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance. A closure member is provided for at least closing the second chamber.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device that is capable of dispensing edible candy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device that prevents accidental activation of such lighter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device that prevents accidental dispensing of the edible breath freshener candy.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device which enables visual identification of the remaining edible breath freshener candy.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser device that is economical to manufacture.

In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a-2 b are cross-sectional views of the combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 a-3 c are front elevation views, partially in cross-section, of a combined lighter and breath freshener dispenser constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, to FIGS. 1-2 b, wherein there is shown a combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser, generally designated lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10, according to a first embodiment of the invention. The combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10 includes a hollow housing 20 having a first end 22 and an opposed second end 24.

A lighter device, generally designated 30, is attached to and closes the first end 22 of the hollow housing 20. The lighter device 30 has a fluid reservoir 32 which extends into the hollow housing 20 towards the opposed second end 24 and contains flammable fluid 4, for example, Butane gas. The lighter device 30 further includes an ignition means 34 which is disposed external to the first end 22. As is well known in the art, the ignition means 34 includes a gas control lever 36, a flint wheel 38 and a flame adjustment wheel 39. The lighter device 30 may be attached to the first end 22 in one of a removable and permanent manner. To accommodate a presently available lighter device 30, the first end 22 may be partially closed adjacent the peripheral edge of the housing 20.

There is a space 28 which is formed within the hollow housing 20 intermediate at least a portion of a peripheral interior surface 26 thereof and at least a portion of an exterior peripheral surface 33 of the fluid reservoir 32. Such space 28 is capable of holding a predetermined plurality of candy type breath fresheners 2. As best illustrated in FIG. 2 a, the fluid reservoir 32 is axially disposed within the hollow housing 20 and such space 28 is formed around the entire peripheral exterior surface 33 of the fluid reservoir 32. Alternatively, the fluid reservoir 32 may have a common wall with the hollow housing 20, as best illustrated in FIG. 2 b.

A closure means 40 is provided for closing the second end 24 of the hollow housing 20. The closure means 40 may be equipped to provide a close fit with either the interior surface 26 or exterior surface of the hollow housing 20 for closing such second end 24 in a removable manner. Preferably, the closure means 40 is permanently attached to the hollow housing 20 and includes an aperture 42 formed therein. The aperture 42 has each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape that are sufficient for enabling incremental passage of breath fresheners 2, such as edible candy, which are stored within the space 28.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that closure means 40 may be provided as a separate member and permanently attached to the second end 24 by way of an adhesive material or such closure means 40 may be formed integral to the housing 20 during the manufacturing process, particularly, when the housing 20 is formed from a molded plastic material.

To prevent unintentional dispensing of such breath fresheners 2 through the aperture 42, a cover 44 is provided for covering the second end 24 and the aperture 42 formed within the closure means 40. Preferably, the combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10 includes a hinge 46 for hingedly attaching the cover 44 to one of the second end 24 of the hollow housing 22 and the closure means 40. Such hinge 46 may be a flexible portion 46 formed during molding of hollow housing 20 and the cover 44 as a one-piece assembly.

The combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10 further includes a second cover 50 and a cavity 52 formed therein for receiving the ignition means 34 of the lighter device 30. It is presently preferred for the combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10 to include a second hinge means 54 for hingedly attaching second cover 50 to one of the first end 22 of the hollow housing 20 and the lighter device 30. Such hinge 54 may be a flexible portion 54 formed during molding of the hollow housing 20 and the second cover 50 as a one-piece assembly.

Preferably, the hollow housing 20 is formed from a transparent plastic material, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for visually identifying the remaining quantity of breath fresheners 2 disposed within the space 50 formed within the hollow housing 20.

It will be appreciated that covers 44 and 54 may have an identical shape by providing a convex closure means 40, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, hinge means 46 and 56 may be constructed in an identical manner.

In use, according to one embodiment, it is contemplated that lighter device 30 is attached in a removable manner enabling the user to simply replace such lighter device 10 when the flammable fluid has been consumed. Accordingly, the user may simply insert a new lighter device 30 and continue to use the present invention by refilling the space 28 with breath fresheners 2 through the aperture 42.

According to an alternative embodiment, the combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 10 is discarded when at least one of the breath fresheners 2 and flammable fluid 4 is consumed in its entirety.

According to another alternative embodiment, the present invention provides a combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser, generally designated 100. Now in reference to FIGS. 3 a-3 c, combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 100 includes a housing 102 having a first end 104 and an opposed second end 106. A first chamber 110 is formed within housing 100 and is at least in open communication with the first end 102 for holding a predetermined quantity of flammable fluid 4, such as Butane.

An ignition means, generally designated 120, is attached to the first end 104 and operable external thereto for igniting the flammable fluid 4. The ignition means 120 includes a base member 122, a gas control lever 124, a flint wheel 126 and a flame adjustment wheel 128. Advantageously, the ignition means 120 and, particularly, the base member 122 are adapted to close the first chamber 110.

There is a second chamber 130 which is formed within the housing 102 and is at least in open communication with the second end 106 thereof for holding a predetermined quantity of breath fresheners 2, such as edible candy. A closure means 140 is provided for closing such second end 106 and the second chamber 130. An aperture 142 is provided for access into such second chamber 130.

It is presently preferred for the first chamber 110 to be disposed within the second chamber 130 and be closed at a distal end by the end portion 112, as best illustrated in FIG. 3 a. The end portion may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the second end 106 for aiding in dispensing such breath fresheners 2 through the aperture 142. Furthermore, the first end may be partially closed with a portion 107 disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of the housing 102.

According to another embodiment, best illustrated in FIG. 3 b, the second chamber 130 is axially aligned with the first chamber 110 and is separated therefrom by a partition 108 which is laterally formed within the housing 102.

According to yet another embodiment, best illustrated in FIG. 3 c, the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 130 are separated by a partition member 109 which extends longitudinally within the housing 102. The closure means 146 is formed to close the distal end of the first chamber 110 and the first end 106 may include a portion 111 for closing a distal end of the second chamber 130.

It will be appreciated that the combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser 100 may be adapted with various covers as described supra for use with combination 10.

Although the present invention has been shown in terms of use with an edible candy type breath freshener, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be applied to the mouth spray type breath freshener by employing a mouth spray dispenser in place of closure means 40 and 140. Furthermore, the housing 102 may be manufactured from other materials, for example, metal Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser, said lighter and breath freshener dispenser comprising: (a) a hollow housing; (b) a lighter device attached to a first end of said hollow housing, said lighter device having a fluid reservoir extending into said hollow housing towards an opposed second end and an ignition means which is disposed external to said first end; (c) a closure means for closing said second end of said hollow housing; and (d) a space formed within said hollow housing intermediate at least a portion of a peripheral interior surface of said housing and at least a portion of an exterior peripheral surface of said fluid reservoir, said space is capable of storing a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance.
 2. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said combination includes a cover and a cavity formed therein for receiving said ignition means.
 3. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said combination further includes a hinge means for hingedly attaching said cover to one of said first end of said hollow housing and said lighter device.
 4. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein breath freshening substance is an edible candy and said closure means includes an aperture formed therein, said aperture having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape.
 5. The combination, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined size of said aperture enables incremental passage of said edible candy which is stored within said space.
 6. The combination, according to claim 4, wherein said combination further includes a cover for covering said second end and said aperture formed within said closure means.
 7. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein said combination further includes a hinge means for hingedly attaching said cover to one of said second end of said hollow housing and said closure means.
 8. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed from a transparent material.
 9. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed from a plastic material.
 10. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said combination further includes a predetermined quantity of breath freshening substance disposed within said space formed within said hollow housing.
 11. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said lighter device is removable from said first end.
 12. A combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser, said combination lighter and breath freshener dispenser comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first chamber formed within said housing and at least in open communication with a first end of said housing for holding a flammable fluid; (c) an ignition means attached to said first end and operable external thereto, said ignition means having a gas control lever, a flint wheel and a flame adjustment wheel, said ignition means at least closes said first chamber; (d) a second chamber formed within said housing and at least in open communication with a second end thereof for holding a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance; and (e) a closure means for at least closing said second chamber.
 13. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second chamber is partially formed by an interior peripheral surface of said housing and said first chamber is disposed within said second chamber and in a spaced relationship with said interior peripheral surface of said housing.
 14. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said combination includes a member closing a distal end of said first chamber, said member being disposed at a predetermined distance from said second end.
 15. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second chamber is axially aligned with said first chamber and said housing includes a partition laterally formed therein, said partition separates said second chamber from said first chamber.
 16. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said housing includes a partition axially extending therein, said partition separates said second chamber from said first chamber.
 17. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said second chamber is axially aligned with said first chamber and said housing includes a partition laterally formed therein, said partition separates said second chamber from said first chamber.
 18. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said combination further includes a flammable liquid disposed within said first chamber, said flammable fluid ignitable by said ignition means to form a flame external to said first end.
 19. The combination, according to claim 12, wherein said combination further includes a predetermined quantity of a breath freshening substance disposed within said second chamber. 